Together they toiled, 7-footers Rashard Griffith and Thomas Hamilton, for three seasons, with high expectations of leading King to a Class AA state basketball title.

Griffith already had won one championship, in 1990 when he was a freshman. But Griffith was a bit player then, taking a back seat to the likes of Jamie Brandon and Johnny Selvie. His goal was to win one with Hamilton at his side in the starting lineup.

After two failed attempts, Griffith and Hamilton finally won their trophy this season, sparking top-ranked King to a 32-0 record and the Class AA title last weekend in Champaign.

And together, King's "Twin Towers" also capped their high school careers by heading the Tribune's 1993 Boys All-State Basketball Team. It is a repeat appearance for Griffith, who is on the first team for the second straight year. Hamilton, a member of last year's second team, is making his initial appearance on the first team.

Joining Griffith and Hamilton on the Tribune's first team are Thornton senior guard Michael Allen, Westinghouse senior guard Kiwane Garris and Peoria Manual senior forward Jerry Hester. Garris, Hester and Hamilton have signed to play their college basketball at the University of Illinois.

In the three seasons Griffith and Hamilton played together, King lost just four games. But two of those losses came in the Public League playoffs-two years ago in the semifinals against Marshall and last season in the championship game against Westinghouse.

So the duo came into this season dead-set on leading King to the Class AA title. Nothing less would do. King went undefeated, with the Wisconsin-bound Griffith averaging 22 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots and Hamilton adding an average of 18 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.

"They kept hearing me say that seniors are supposed to win the whole thing," said King coach Landon Cox. "They said they were going to win it, and I told them I was from Missouri: You have to show me."

That they did, first with convincing victories over Proviso East and Danville in the Elite Eight. Then they helped the Jaguars pull off a 32-2 fourth quarter to complete a 79-42 victory over Rockford Guilford in the title game.

"They showed me," Cox said. "The proof is in the pudding. The bottom line is they won the state championship and won it convincingly."

Peoria Manual's 6-foot-6-inch Hester led his team to a 23-6 record (two of the losses were to King), shooting 54.9 percent from the field while averaging 21.3 points and 8.5 rebounds a game.

Westinghouse coach Roy Condotti believes the 6-1 Garris also will make an immediate impact at Illinois.

"Certainly at his position, he can," Condotti said of Garris. "He's always been able to handle pressure, but I'm sure that going down there, he doesn't have to carry the whole load, which should help him."

In his three seasons as a starter, Garris led Westinghouse to three straight appearances in the Public League title game, including last year's upset victory over King and a third-place finish in the Class AA tournament.

As a senior, Garris averaged 22 points, five rebounds and six assists while shooting 51 percent from the field.

One of the state's most prolific scorers, Allen almost singlehandedly led Thornton to an appearance in the Hinsdale Central supersectional, where the Wildcats fell to Proviso East.

Allen had many memorable games in '92-'93, including 50 points against Champaign Centennial early in the season and a 41-point performance in Thornton's 78-76 victory over Mt. Carmel to win the Thornridge sectional.

"He did more for our basketball team than any other individual did for their team," said Thornton coach Sam Cameli. "We wouldn't have gotten that far without Michael."

FIRST TEAMMichael Allen, 6-2, senior, guard, ThorntonFew in the state compared with Allen's outside shooting prowess. Finished his high school career second on Thornton's all-time scoring list with 1,951 career points, behind Tracy Webster (2,009 points). Averaged 27 points, including a school-record 50 points against Champaign Centennial.

Kiwane Garris, 6-1, senior, guard, WestinghouseThe state's second-best prospect this season behind King's Griffith, Garris led the Warriors to a second-place finish in the Public League playoffs. Garris, a Parade third-team All-American, averaged 22 points, five rebounds and six assists while shooting 51 percent from the field. Will attend Illinois.

Rashard Griffith, 7-0, senior, center, KingThe Wisconsin-bound Griffith helped lead King to an undefeated season, including the Class AA title, while averaging 22 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots. He also was named to the McDonald's All-American team and to the Parade All-American second team.

Thomas Hamilton, 7-4, senior, forward, KingThe versatile Hamilton paired with Griffith to give the Jaguars the state's top front line. Hamilton, who has signed with Illinois, improved in all areas this season, averaging 18 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots. Named to the Class AA all-tournament team.

Jerry Hester, 6-6, senior, forward, Peoria ManualA finesse player with a variety of inside moves, the Illinois-bound Hester helped Manual to a 23-6 record. Hester, who averaged 21 points and nine rebounds, was the most valuable player of the Danville Shootout and the Pontiac Holiday Tournament.

SECOND TEAMKenny Davis, 5-11, senior, guard, Proviso EastA starter on Proviso's back-to-back Class AA champions, Davis led the Pirates to their third straight trip to the Elite Eight, averaging 17 points and five assists. Davis was a two-time all-tournament selection at Glenbard West and Proviso West, as well as a two-time all-West Suburban Gold selection.

Malik Dixon, 6-2, senior, forward, St. Francis de SalesCaptured the Tony Lawless Award as the best senior player in the Catholic League while leading his team to an undefeated record in league play. A solid all-around player, Dixon averaged 19 points, six assists and five rebounds while shooting 87 percent from the free-throw line for De Sales, which finished 23-2.

Tyron Lee, 6-5, junior, forward, SpringfieldTop player for one of the state's top teams, the versatile Lee averaged 23 points, 11 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 54 percent from three-point range. An excellent defensive player, he also chipped in more than 50 blocks and 70 steals.

THIRD TEAMDerek Grimm, 6-9, senior, forward, Morton (Ill.)A solid inside player, Grimm shot 62 percent while averaging 22.8 points and 11 rebounds. He even made 40 percent of his three-point tries. Has signed with Missouri.

Tyrone Nesby, 6-7, junior, forward, CairoThe Class A slam-dunk champion, Nesby led Cairo to a third-place finish in the Class A tournament. Used his all-around skills to average 21 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and one blocked shot. Shot 53 percent from the field.

Reggie Rose, 6-2, senior, guard, HubbardOne of the top players in the Public League, Rose also was one of the state's leading scorers, averaging 28 points and scored close to 1,600 points in three seasons for Hubbard, which finished 20-8.

Andy Thompson, 6-7, senior, forward, EdwardsvilleHe led his team to the quarterfinals of the Class AA tournament, averaging 24 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Equally adept at shooting from the inside and outside, Thompson shot 69 percent from the field and 45 percent from three-point range.